Office Supply Case

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a case for the organization, storage, and transportation of a wide variety of writing materials, that includes means for temporarily fixing and supporting said case on a smooth surface such as a wall, a table or such in a way that the writing instruments are found to be perfectly located for the user during a work session and that the case can be removed from said surface for its storage and transportation.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from Mexican patent applicationMX/u/2009/000157, “Estuche Para Articulos de Papeleria” filed May 14,2008.

TECHNICAL NOTE

The present invention refers to a case that allows many writinginstruments to be stored and carried. This case is provided with thenecessary means to temporarily secure each instrument to a surface andkeep it handy, and it is also provided with fastening means to keep thewriting instruments inside.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As everybody knows, due to the nature of writing instruments, such aspens, markers, crayons, pencils and permanent markers and especiallywhen you have a lot of them, for use in the graphic arts or just to drawas a hobby, it is necessary to keep them together and organized to allowthe user easy access to them.

A simple solution for the mentioned situation is the usage of a casethat is provided with fastening means of each writing instrument,allowing a perfect organization according to the user's needs. There area lot of types of cases like this. Some examples such as the onesdescribed as follows can be mentioned:

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,622 (Cramer, 1989) describes a sectionalcontainer which has at least one front section and one rear section thatclose together to form a closed package; the back wall of the frontsection is used to close the front of the rear section and vice versa.As an option, this sectional container can have one or more intermediatesections that match to the rear section or between the front and rearsection to enlarge the container's capacity; the intermediate sectionsare identical and interchangeable. This alternative offers severaladvantages due to its multi assembly and the matching designs betweenthe instruments, however these advantages make the whole containervoluminous and make hard to have access to writing material when theintermediate parts are misaligned and have to be organized.

The proposed alternative is the U.S. Pat. No. D315,446 (Dietterich etal, 1991) which solves the difficulties of mentioned sectional containerin some aspects, because it describes a box to keep markers, where theyare set in several supports arranged in a parallel arrangement locatedon the box's body, which has a transparent lid that opens and closeswhen it turns on a hinge, and the container is installed directly on toa wall by screws; with that design, it is guaranteed that the materialwill be organized and always handy, however due to its installation onthe wall by screws it will be hard to transport since this operationwill require the usage of special tools (screwdrivers) in order toseparate the box from the wall.

On the contrary, the design of the U.S. Pat. No. D390,357 (Rosen, 1998)shows a portable case made with a transparent material which has ahinged lid, that allows portability and easy handling of the whole caseand its contents, but it is the user's responsibility to know locationof the case in every moment to avoid its loss.

Similar to the mentioned model, the design of the U.S. Pat. No. D392,463(Grey, 1998) offers a container with different spaces designated forstorage and retention of writing instruments. That container has twosections, front and rear, joined by hinges along one of their edges. Itis also provided with the means for closing between both sections, aswell as a handle for its transportation. On the other hand, the U.S.Pat. No. 6,680,933 (Demisien et al, 2004) describes a container thatoffers the same advantages and disadvantages as the one describedbefore, with some changes to the way the writing instruments are held inplace in its interior, associated to the shape of the walls of thecontainer; additionally this design includes the means to hang thecontainer when it is closed.

Finally, two alternatives for the usage of the lid of the container forwriting instrument from the ones considered here, are shown on U.S. Pat.No. 6,913,143 (Yang, 2005) and the design on patent D538,032S (Rosen etal, 2007). The first one offers a container in which the lid can bedetached, different from the hinged joint of the previous models inwhich said joint is formed by the same material as the sections to bejoined, in this case the assembly is done by using pivots (threadedscrews) that join the front section (of the lid) and the rear section ofthe container in two collinear points; the separation of the lid can beachieved by taking out the pivots. In Rosen's design, the lid, which ishinged to the container's body in a similar manner as Yang's patent, canbe pivoted in order to provide a support for the entire container.However, in both cases the possibility of the pieces getting loose isstill present and there is a risk of contents of the case can get out ifthe container is thrown by accident.

INVENTION OBJECTIVES

Considering the limitations present in the different alternativesdeveloped until now and as described before, the objective of thepresent invention is to provide a case that allows the user to keepseveral writing instruments simultaneously, and that said case offersthe means to enable its temporary installation, on a location determinedby the user, while it content is used.

Another goal for the present invention is to provide a case that allowsthe transportation of many office supplies, organized on its interior.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a container thatprovides easy access, including the insertion and withdrawal of thedifferent writing instruments on its interior.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a case that can beeasily set up in within the user's work area.

One more objective of this invention is to offer a case that can beattached in an easy-to-remove way within the user's working area.

These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention willbecome evident during the description that follows, which is accompaniedby a group of figures for the preferred modals of the invention, thatare included just for illustrative purposes and are not to be consideredas limiting to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a case useful for the conservation andtransportation of several writing instruments, and it is also convenientto keep writing articles handy or to transport them when and where theuser needs, it also includes means to enable its easy-to-removeinstallation within the user's working area allowing easy and quickaccess to the writing instruments, and the removal the case when it isnot needed anymore.

The container of this invention includes means for fastening a widerange of writing instruments, which keep all of them secured on itsbase; providing an easy release of the instruments from the means ofattachment.

The case body is formed by two sections or parts: a base and a lid,joined by a hinge to allow opening and closure; this container ischaracterized by a pair of holes located on the walls of the base of thecontainer with dimensions such that allow the passage and retention itsinterior as means of support for the case to be set on a flat surface.

The preferred means of support are suction cups, that can be installedon any smooth flat surface, such as a wall, a table, or a blackboard, inorder to keep the case of this invention in a stable place during thetime that user requires the usage of the writing instruments, as well asits easy removal for storage once the usage of the writing instrumentsis finished.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to have a better comprehension of the advantages of the systemof the invention, a group of figures is included to show thecharacteristics of some of the preferred models of this case; thesemodels are not to be limited to the configuration of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view, from the side that has the lid of the inventioncase (it is shown without the means of securing the writinginstruments).

FIG. 2 is a simple perspective view of the interior of the lid of theinvention case.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view, from the side that includes the handle of thelid of the invention case.

FIG. 4 is a rear view, of the lid of the case invented, showing itsinterior.

The FIG. 5 is a top view of the lid of the case invented, showing itsexterior.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the lid of the case invented.

FIG. 7 is a simple perspective view of the interior body of the case ofthe invention. (It is shown without the means of attaching the writinginstruments.)

FIG. 8 a is a partial sectional view showing in detail the joint hingedelement of the case invented that corresponds to the body section.

FIG. 8 b is a partial sectional view showing the details of the jointhinged element of this invention case that corresponds to lid section.

FIG. 9 a is a partial sectional view showing the details of the hingedelement between the body and the lid of the case invented, in an openposition.

FIG. 9 b is a partial sectional view showing the details of the hingedelement between the body and the lid of the case invented, in its closedposition.

FIG. 10 is an interior view of the case body with the first model of themeans of attaching the writing instruments.

FIG. 11 is a simple perspective view of the body of the invented casewith the first modal of the means of attaching the writing instruments.

FIG. 12 is a simple perspective view of the body of the invented casewith the first modal of the means of attaching the writing instruments,and with means attaching the invented container to a surface in aworking position.

FIG. 13 is a lateral view of preferred means of attachment of thiscontainer to a surface, with conventional suction cup.

FIG. 14 is a simple perspective view of preferred means of attachment ofthe container to a surface, with a conventional suction cup.

FIG. 15 is a simple perspective view of the interior of the body of theinvented container with the second modal of the means for attaching thewriting instruments.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the interior of the body of the inventedcontainer with a second modal of the means for attaching the writinginstruments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION

The following description will be referring to the attached drawingsmentioned before, that have to be understood as just reference for thepreferred modals of the invention, and not limiting in the inventionconcept. The common elements of the figures have the same numericreferences in all of them

The present invention refers to a case used for organizing, storing andtransporting a wide variety of writing instruments that includestemporary and removable means of attaching to a flat surface such as awall, a table and similar objects, in such way that writing instrumentscan be perfectly located by the end user during a working session.

This invention case, denoted with number (100) on FIG. 1 is shownbasically as a container consisting of a base section where writinginstruments are organized and a lid section (front view in FIG. 1),preferably made with a transparent or translucent material. The base andlid sections are joined by two hinged bodies (110)

In FIGS. 2 and 6 the lid section (200) is shown, and it is formed byseveral characteristic elements:

-   -   i) One cover (280) preferably smooth and of a transparent or        translucent material, with a configuration and dimensions enough        to cover the base section (300) (shown on FIG. 7), surrounded by        a vertical bearing wall (215);    -   ii) One frame (210) to join together the lid (200) and the        outline of vertical bearing wall (315) of the base section        (300), with a height determined by a lateral edge (220) that is        rests on the vertical bearing wall rim (315) of base section        (300) when the lid and the base are in a closed position; the        lateral rim (220) is located all along the interior surface of        the vertical bearing wall (215) of the lid section (200) and it        is equidistant to the edge of the frame (210); the frame        inhibits the access of solid or liquid materials to the case's        interior;    -   iii) One pair of grooves (230) located outside of the base of        the lid, that forms the female part of the hinged coupling (110)        between the lid section (200) and base section (300), these        grooves have a transversal section in a U shape with their ends        (231), (232) being closed by a wall of the same material, these        grooves (230) are located near the extreme sides of lid section        of the base (200), in the interior zone that is defined by two        projections (270) that works as support to keep the case (100)        in a vertical position when it is closed;    -   iv) Means for closure (240) between the lid section (200) and        the base section (300), that fit on the reception means located        in the zone that corresponds to the base section (300);    -   v) Reinforcement elements (250) to avoid the deformation of the        lid section (200), that match with their corresponding elements        of the base section (300) to achieve a good fit between both        sections;    -   vi) One handle (260) that consists of two corresponding and        complementary sections formed in a comprehensive way on the lid        (200) and base (300) sections,    -   vii) One hole (265) to allow the entrance of the user's hand,        set up by a bearing wall (266) that match up with their        corresponding base section (300); the joints between the bearing        wall (266) and the cover of lid section (200) preferably should        be round;

Additionally, the handle (260) can include a perforation (290) to allowthe passage of the materials used to hang and or exhibit it, such ashooks or supports that correspond to the corresponding holes in thesection of the container (300). This allows for the exhibition of thecase at the so called point of sale.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the exterior surface of the cover (280) of thesection of the lid (200) can be used for the application of publicity,as it is a broad, smooth surface.

The section of the container (300) that is illustrated in perspective inFIG. 7 shows the elements of being joined, as much the hinge (330) asthe closure (340) that corresponds with that section of the lid (200)and other characteristic elements that will be described here asfollows:

-   -   i. A cover (380) with dimensions and interior configuration that        includes elements for fixing a multitude of writing utensils        adapted to the shape and the quantity of utensils that is will        contain.    -   ii. A perimeter border (310) to join the section of the        container (300) to the outline section of the lid (200), with a        lateral perimetral rim (320) where the edge (210) of the section        of the lid (200) rests, projecting outwards toward the exterior        wall.    -   iii. A pair of projections (330) that make up the pin section of        the tongue and groove joint of the hinge (110) between the        sections of the lid (200) and the base (300), said projections        (330) are located in a manner that corresponds to the socket        (230) of lid section (200), in the inferior zone defined by the        two projections (370) as a means of support that also        corresponds to the projections (270)    -   iv. Means of attachment (240) of the lid section (200) to the        base section (300), made up of two projections that are joined        to the corresponding elements (240) located in the corresponding        zone on the lid section (200)    -   v. Elements of reinforcement (350) to avoid the deformation of        the section of the container (300) that corresponds to those in        the lid sections (200) for the joining of both sections.    -   vi. A handle (360) integrally formed in the body section of the        base (300), including a perimetral wall (366) that defines an        empty space (365) to allow the passage of the hand of the user,        corresponding to that (265) in the section of the lid (200) and        where the edges of said wall (366) are designed to coincide with        those that correspond to the wall (266) in the lid section        (200); the union between the walls (366) and the cover (380) of        the section of the base (300) are to preferably be rounded

As is the case with the section of the lid (200), the handle on thesection of the base (300) can additionally include a perforation (390)to allow the passage of hanging elements in order to exhibit the case;they correspond with the perforation (290) comparable to those in thesection of the lid (200).

The lid (380) presents a pair of perforations (400) characteristic ofthe case (100) of the invention, that have the purpose of securing andmaintaining on the interior as a means of support (500) to temporarilyhold, support or fix the case (100) of the invention, to a smoothsurface such as a wall, a table, or the board.

These perforations (400) are located close to the upper corners of thebase section (300), taking as a reference the case (600) (the lid is notillustrated, for better clarity of the drawing) in a vertical positionwith the handle upwards; the perforations (400) have the approximateshape of a figure “8”. They have the “lower” section of the hole withdimensions large enough to permit the passage of the body of attachment(510) of the suction cup (500) that represents the means of preferredattachment; the “upper” section of each hole (400) has a size such thatallow for the neck (520) of the suction cup (500) to pass through it andmaintain it stable, as is illustrated schematically in FIG. 12, in sucha way that the structure of the case (600) can remain “hanging” in anopen position on a wall or other smooth vertical surface, and remainingin place sustained by the effect of the suction between the cups andsaid surface.

As has been indicated above, the preferred modal for the means ofsupport of the article of the invention are conventional suction cups,such as those that are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14,referred to by the number (500): these suction cups (500) are composedof a body of the cup (530), and a body of attachment (510) united by theneck (520), formed all from the same material, usually of flexibleplastic.

The usage of the means of support in combination with the article ofinvention, is illustrated in FIG. 12, in which it appears that the lidwill remain “hanging” from the bottom of the base of the case, allowingeasy and quick access for the user to any one of the articles on theinterior section of the container; the suction cups (500) allow for thefixation of the section of the illustrated container (600) in a smoothvertical surface, such as a wall, board, or including a horizontalsurface such as a table.

Once the use of the writing instruments has been concluded, they can beplaced in their place inside the case, and it can be closed andeventually be removed from the wall or the surface to which it wastemporarily fixed.

With reference now to FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 9 a, and 9 b, they areschematically representing a detail of one of the preferred modals thathas joint hinges (110), it corresponds to a cross cut along the line A-Aas shown in FIG. 1.

The joint hinge (110) shown in the FIG. 9 b is composed of two sections.

One section as a socket designated by the number (140) associated withthe lid (200) of the case (100) and integrally formed with it, thatcontains the form of a canal with a transversal “U” section, locatedclose to the edge of the vertical border wall (215) that surrounds thecover (280) of the lid (200), and

One section as a peg designated by number (330) associated with the base(300) of the case (100) and integrally formed with it, being at the sametime formed by a set element (150) that is a flat projection from theedge of the vertical wall (315) that surrounds and defines the cover(380) and a moving element with a profile shaped in a ninety degreeangle “L” (120), joined all along a edge (130) over which the movementof the hinge can be realized, as is illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 9b. The free end of the movable element (120) is placed into the canal(140), maintaining in its place by means of pressure, an adhesive orother adequate means of fixation, to permit the hinged movement of thesections of the lid (200) and the base (300) of the case of theinvention (100).

The configuration of the means of the hinge or of the joint hingerecently described, has the particularity to allow for the totalextension of the lid in a way that the plane formed by the perimeteredge is aligned with the plane formed by the perimeter edge of the base,that is, it forms an angle of 180°, allowing complete access to thecontents of the case when it is found to be completely open, as is thecase when the case is found attached to a smooth vertical surface as isillustrated in the FIG. 12.

Considering the previous description, it is evident for the person withknowledge in the field that some modifications to the basicconfiguration of the illustrated model could be necessary in order tosatisfy particular requirements but it should be considered that thesemodifications will not take the invention thus far described furtherthan the reach of the following claims.

Examples of the modifications that are considered within the reach ofthe invention are presented in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 13, and 14 in which thefirst 3 represent the first model (600) of the invention in that theunit with a variety of means for the fixation of writing instrumentswith a specific order that has been included. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustratea second model (700) in that the unit (420) offers an order and adifferent quantity of means for the fixation of the writing instruments.It can be appreciated that the modification of the location, number andnature of said means of fixation do not affect to the function or theutility of the article as it has been described and they obey in a largepart the esthetic effect that is desired to grant to the case and thearticles contained that are visible through the transparent ortranslucent lid. In any case, it is recommendable that it be consideredto maintain a balanced distribution in the weight of the instruments,through the means of fixation, in order that the suction cups receivesimilar loads and can maintain the case in a secure place on a smoothsurface.

1. A case for storage and transportation of a plurality of writinginstruments, comprised of a base and a lid united by means of a hinge inorder to open and close and that is held closed by means of fasteningthe lid and the base, in a way that is similar to conventionalbriefcases, said case is characterized because it includes means ofsupport that permits the user to adhere it in an easy-to-remove way to asmooth surface within the work area of a user so that said user willhave easy and quick access to the writing instruments, and said case canbe removed when it is no longer necessary to maintain it on saidsurface.
 2. The case according to claim 1, in which the means ofattachment of the case to a smooth surface are conventional suctioncups.
 3. The case according to claim 2, in which the means of support orthe suction cups on the base of the case are connected by means of apair of holes located on the wall of the base of the case, close to theupper corners of the same (taking into reference the case in a verticalposition with the handle upwards).
 4. The case according to claim 3, inwhich the holes that are located on the wall of the case have the formof a skinny “8” where the bottom hole allows for the passage of themeans of attachment of one of said suction cups, and the upper holeretains the neck that matches the means of suction of each of the cupswith the body of the cup.
 5. The case according to claim 1, in which thelid has a frame that surrounds the perimeter for closure and anadjustment of the border of the base, forming a seal that prevents thepassage of solid or liquid material to the interior of the case.
 6. Thecase, according to claim 1, in which the hinges are integrally formedwith each one of the sections of the base and the lid.
 7. The caseaccording to claim 1, in which the hinges allow the complete closure ofthe lid in a way that the plane that is over the edge can form an angleof 180° in relation to the plane that is over the edge of the base. 8.The case according to claim 1, further comprising a handle that isintegrally formed with the sections of the lid and the base, presentingeach one of them in the middle of said handle and therefore beingcomplimentary among themselves.
 9. The case according to claim 1, inwhich the handle contains holes to allow the passage of conventionalmeans of exhibition (hoods and supports) for the exhibition of the casein situations of sales presentations.
 10. The case according to claim 1,in which the lid is fabricated from a transparent or translucentmaterial to permit the contents of the case to be seen.
 11. The caseaccording to claim 1, in which both the base and the lid include in thewall opposite of the handle, on the exterior facet, projections alongthe lines of feet or supports to support the case in a vertical positionwith the handle in an upward position, and to provide protection to thehinges.
 12. The case according to claim 1, in which the base includesinterior means for fastening a wide variety of writing instruments, saidmeans for fastening allow for the easy release of the writing instrumentwhen it is required.